chicagoareafire.com

4 Comments

• #1 by Bill Post on February 26, 2012 - 12:31 AM

  

  In the first shot of the Mercy Hospital Fire of 9/13/1963, in the foreground just beyond the police car is the rear of one of the 1955 International Harvester, “High Pressure Wagons”. If you notice that the split hose bed is just about empty, that’s because at the time of this fire there was only 1 out of (at one time) 8 High Pressure Wagons still in service. There is a good chance that the “High Pressure Wagon” in the photo was being used as a “Spare Squad company” since those rigs were often used as Spare Squads in the 1960s as both Squad and High Pressure apparatus normally had built-in turrets installed on the apparatus. Due to some wrecked Squad apparatus, one of them had become old Squad 4’s regular rig the last 2 years before being taken out of service in October 1968. Salvage Squad 2 had also been using one of the Internationals as it’s regular rig as well, when they were running out of Engine 5’s station.

• #2 by Wayne on February 23, 2012 - 3:16 PM

  

  The historic photos are great!!!!!

• #3 by Bill Post on February 22, 2012 - 9:33 PM

  

  Dennis, I would like to put in a correction for you if you don’t mind. Snorkel 3 was quartered with Engine Company 84 at the time of this extra alarm fire. Engine 84 was still at their old quarters at 5721 S Halsted on the east side of the street. Snorkel Squad 2 was located with Engine 60 at their new (at the time) station that was just opened on September 4th 1963, only 9 days before the extra alarm at 2527 S Prarie took place. Snorkel 3 didn’t move into Engine 60’s quarters until December 30 1969. So it could have been Snorkel 3 from Engine 84’s quarters or perhaps it was Snorkel Squad 2?

• #4 by Dennis on February 22, 2012 - 4:27 PM

  

  Snorkel Co. 3 responded from their quarters with Engine Co. 60 at 0952, positioned on the south side of the building and raised the Snorkel, per 2nd Deputy Chief Scanlon.

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